A Job for Life

April 1983

Redundant Mineworkers Pension Scheme leaflet (cover) – April 1983. Source: David Amos collection 

Redundant Mineworkers Pension Scheme leaflet – April 1983. Source: David Amos collection

Newspaper column: ‘Pit Payoff Queue’ – March 1983. Source: Notts Free Press

‘NUM Chief dismisses claims’

‘Union Chief Ray Chadburn shrugged aside that men were “queueing up” to be made redundant’.

Voluntary redundancy terms for miners over the age of 50 were enhanced in April 1983 – replacing the Voluntary Early Retirement Scheme (VERS) which was introduced in the late 1970’s.

VERS brought the retirement age down from 65 to 62, encouraging large numbers of miners over the age of 50 to leave the industry. As older miners finished on voluntary redundancy, younger miners from closed collieries were being transferred to take their place.

Left: Newspaper column: Youth recruitment stopped at NCB South Nottinghamshire Area, 1st April 1983. Right: Mining recruitment leaflet from the 1970s. Source: David Amos collection

Pit Shock as 200 jobs go at Newstead Colliery. Source – Notts Free Press, 2nd September 1983.

Redundancy trends at Annesley Colliery for financial years1978-79 and 1983-84. Figures from the Annesley Colliery finishers book, David Amos collection.